The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-11-30
AGENCY REPORTS.
what the Several Indian Agents in Montan:
Have to Say in Regard to Matters
Under Their Charge.

From the annual report of the com
missioner Of Indian affairs we gather the
following synopsis of reports made by diff
ferent agents ia Montana:
THE BLACKFEET.
OF affairs at the Blackfeet agency in
Montana, Agent Baldwin says:
The Indians have built for themselves
during the year fifty-eight log cabins.
There have also been five agency buildings
constructed without other cost to the gov
ernment than that of nails, windows and
locks, including carpenter and blacksmith
shop and police headquarters. We have
also increased the boarding school accom-
modatiOns by building two additional
rooms, enabling us to care for fourteen
more children. Last year we burned a
lime kiln at the mountains, and burned
all the lime required for both the use Of
the agency and the Indians All coal
used in the blacksmith shop is obtained
on the reservation, there being large
tract of coal land on Birch creek, also
small veins Of camel being found here.
All timber necessary for house building
can be obtained at the mountains and
foated down the streams to within four
miles Of the agency saw mill About Co.,
600 feet Of lumber was sawed this year.
OF trespassers on the Blackfeet reserva-
ton, Mr.. Baldwin says:
A number of miners have been working
gold mines discovered at the Sweet Grass
hills, distant about ninety miles northeast
of the agency. They have been notified
to remove from the reservation, but refuse
to do so, Last winter they petitioned the
department to be permitted to remain I'M
til such time this spring as to enable
them, with safety to their families to re-
move. This relief was granted them un-
til the weather would permit their re-
moval. They have this spring been fur
ther notified to leave, but pay no attention
thereto.
THE CROW AGENCY.
OF the census at the Grow agency,
Agent Williamson says:
The census Of the Grow Indians for
warded on June 30th exhibits the facts, as
it was possible to obtain them, with regard
to the number of Indians of this tribe.
The census shows a total of 2,456 Indians
in place of 1926, as reported last year from
records Of a census taken several years
previous. In future there will be but lit
tie trouble in keeping correct count as
the reservation is divided into agriculture
al districts, each in charge of a farmer
who is instructed to keep an accurate ac-
count of the births and deaths, reporting
the same at this Office monthly, thereby
preventing any fraud on the part Of the
Indians regarding the actual numbers in
their respective families. This census
will be Of great assistance in making the
allotments to the Indians in severalty.
The agent shows that 1888 head of
stock cattle are owned by 395 families of
the Crows. OF moneys collected, the
agent says:
Since the commencement of my admin
istration there has been quite a large sum
($25,960) collected from various sources by
me and deposited to the credit of the
United States treasury. Ihave addressed
several communications to the commits
sioner regarding this fund, and expressed
an earnest desire that it be utilized in
some judicious manner for the benefit of |
the Indians, to whom it rightfully be-
longs.
Agent Field at Belknap reports cen
sus Of his Indians, showing 1,720, Of whom
904 are Gros Ventres and SIC Assina
BONES. He says:
No lands have been allotted to the In
dians in seyeraltY, nor do [ deem it wise
to take any steps in that direction until
after congress takes some action as to the
reduction ia size of the present reserva-
ton.
Agent Cowan of Fort Peck shows 1,772
Indians at his agency, of which 954 are
fanktons and 827 Ass1naboines.